Knitting machine



March 14, 1939. w z Ev 2,150,200

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 4 \i BY ,4

ATTORNEYS March 14, 1939. w. A. ZIEVE KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYf) March 14,1939. w z v 2,150,200

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M INVENTOR.

4- Zia/ a.-

ATI'ORNEYS Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines in general, and is herein illustrated as especially designed for use in association with a circular knitting machine of the type in which the needle cylinder and needle dial remain stationary and reciprocatory movement is imparted to the needles through the instrumentality of appropriate needle-actuating cams.

An important object of the invention is to provide a generally improved and simplified knitting machine, which is characterized by the fact that it is so constructed as to make possible the use of a relatively large number of feeds and by the fact that various adjustments, changes and alterations, such as are required, for example, when changing the machine set-up according to the design or type of fabric to be knitted, may be easily and expeditiously accomplished without necessitating the exercising of so much as ordinary skill on the part of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- 2 Fig. 1 is a fragmental view in plan of a knitting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of so much of the machine as is 30 shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a view showing in front elevation one of the pattern wheel units appearing in Figs. 1 and 3, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4. I

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the horizontal needles l0 and the vertical needles H are carried, respectively, on a stationary needle plate l2 and a stationary needle cylinder l3, with the former of which there is associated the usual dial cam plate I 4 and with the latter of which there is associated the usual cam ring l5.

Mounted on the dial cam plate M, are a plurality of feed units l6, each of which includes a radially disposed bar or block ll, provided at one end with a slot I8, and formed intermediate its ends with a notch and at its outer end with a notch 2|. The slot I8 is adapted for the reception of a retaining pin 22, which is secured to the dial cam plate l4 and to the upper end of which is pivotally connected a latch bolt 24, the screw threaded or nut-carrying end of which is adapted to assume a position Within the upwardly extended slotted arm of an angle bracket 26 secured to the bar I1. The notch 20 is adapted to accommodate a retaining pin 21, a which is carried by the dial cam plate I4. It will be observed that the notch 20 is relatively large with respect to the pin 21 so as to permit various lateral adjustments of the bar ll to be made. In order that the bar may be held in intimate face-to-face engagement with the dial cam plate I4, the upper or screw threaded end of the pin 21 is provided with a wing nut 28, the base of which is sufliciently large to completely overlie the notch 20 regardless of any position of adjustment that the bar I! may assume. Secured to and depending from the outer end of the bar I1, is a cam-carrying lug 3| to which is connected a horizontally disposed centripetal cam 32 which may be regarded as a low ering cam.

Each'of the feed units I6 further includes a horizontally disposed centrifugal cam 34, (which may be regarded as a lifting cam) connected to a cam-carrying lug 35, secured to and depending from a block 36, which corresponds in certain respects to the bar l'l hereinbefore described. The block 36 when placed in position on the dial cam plate I assumes a fixed relation to that plate inasmuch as it is provided with a pair of pins 31, which are adapted to be received by and to snugly fit within a pair of pocket-like openings 38, with which the dial cam plate is provided. The inner end of the block 36 is provided with a notch 40, adapted to receive a retaining pin 4|, which is secured to the dial cam plate 14 and the upper or screw threaded end of which is provided with a wing nut 42, by which the bar may be held in intimate face-toface engagement with the dial cam plate. Secured to the block 36 is an angle bracket 44, the upwardly extended slotted arm of which is adapted to receive the screw threaded or nutcarrying end of a latch bolt 46, which is pivotally connected to a pin 41, carried by the bar I'I which is next adjacent the block 36 at the left thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, reference being had particularly to the latch bolts 24 and 46, it will be appreciated that the former bolts serve to anchor the bars I! against a normal tendency to move radially outwardly incident to the drag of the earns 32 over the horizontal needles as the dial cam plate I4 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A appearing in Fig. 1 and that the latter of these bolts serve to anchor the bars against a normal tendency to creep or pivot about the pins 22 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 incident to travel of the cams 32 over the horizontal needles. Aside from the fact that the latch bolts 24 and 46 serve to insure against undue displacement of the bars H in the manner just described, they may be utilized, upon backing ofi the wing nuts 28, to facilitate micrometric radial adjustment of the bars l1 as well as pivotal adjustments thereof about the pins 22, as when such adjustments are desired to efl'ect proper positioning of the cams 32 in setting up or otherwise conditioning the machine for use.

With the block 36 there is associated a dial pattern wheel 48, which is provided with the usual spirally cut peripheral teeth 50, between certain of which, according to the design of the pattern to be produced in the knitting operation, are carried the usual form of Jacks The pattern wheel 68 is adapted to cooperate with certain of the horizontal needles l9, depending upon the arrangement of the jacks 55, to move such needles outwardly pursuant to their being acted on by the preceding centrifugal cam 34, as is well known in the art. As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the pattern wheel 48 is carried by a. sleeve bearing 52, on which is also carried a jack-retaining plate 5 5, which is held in position by a nut 55, carried on the screw threaded portion of the bearing sleeve. In order that the nut 55 may be locked in a definite position on the bearing sleeve 52 it is provided with a yokelike spring 56, the inturned ends of which are pivotally supported in the wall of the nut at diametrically opposite points thereon. The nut 55 is provided, as at 51, with a notch into and out of which the yoke portion of the spring 56 may be sprung, the function of the notch being to retain the spring normally in its position shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that one of the inturned ends 58 of the spring 56 is of a length substantially greater than the thickness of the wall of the nut 55 so as to enable it to enter an opening 69 formed in the wall of the bearing sleeve 52, the opening 60 being so located that the end 58 of the spring will enter the same as the nut 55 is run down on the bearing sleeve 52 and at such time as the nut exerts through the jack-retaining plate 54 a proper clamping action on the jacks 5 I.

The pattern wheel unit U thus far described as comprising the wheel 48, jacks 5i, jack-retaining plate 54, nut 55 and spring 56, is adapted to be.

readily assembled in the machine or removed therefrom as will be readily understood when it is taken into account that the unit is rotatably supported on a readily detachable bearing pin or shaft 6 i The bearing pin or shaft 61! is formed at one end with a head 62, and for the purpose of insuring proper lubrication it is provided with a central oil passage 64, which communicates With an oil duct 65, leading outwardly to the bearing surface and there communicating with a spiral groove 66, into which oil is delivered from the passage 64 and duct 65. The pin 6| is formed with a shank 61, which is adapted to snugly fit within an opening 68, formed in a bearing support 10, which is vertically adjustable in the block 36 and is adapted to be held in various positions of adjustment by a cooperating set screw 69.- Because of the nicetyof fit of the shank 61 with respect to the opening 68, the wheel unit is, of course, held on a definite axis at all times. In order that the shank 61 may be held against longitudinal movement, there is provided a retaining pin 1|, which is slidably carried within the bearing support 19 and is adapted to register with a circumferential notch .13, formed on the shank 61, the pin 1| being normally retained in locked position by a tension spring 14 one end of which is connected to the ing support 10.

rounded, as shown in Fig. 5, andwill cam the upper end of the pin and the other end of which is suitably anchored to the upper end of the bear- The end of the shank 61 is pin from the circumferential notch 12 in order to permit the bearing pin to be removed.

With the cam ring there are associated a plurality of feed units 15, which correspond in number to the feed units l6 hereinbefore described and each of which includes a radially disposed block 16, carrying a pair of locating pins 11 which are accommodated within suitable openings formed in the cam ring l5. The block 16 is secured in a fixed position on the cam ring l5 by a wing nut 18, carried at the upper end of a. screw threaded stud 80, projecting upwardly from the cam ring and extending through the outer end of the block. Carried at the inner end of the block 16, are a pair of guide pins 8| and 82, accommodated within openings 84 and 85, formed in a vertically adjustable cam block 86, to which is suitably connected a needle lowering cam '81 which is adapted to cooperate with the vertical needles H to move them downwardly and with respect to which the cam 32 is both circumferentially and radially adjustable. The cam 81 presents a curved inner surface, conforming generally to the contour of the needle cylinder l3 and is provided at its left margin, reference being bad to Fig. 3, with a vertically adjustable stop finger 88, adapted to prevent overthrow of the needle under the action of the respective needle lifting cams hereinafter more particularly described. In order that the cam block 86 together with its associated cam 81 may be vertically adjusted with relation to the corresponding needle elevating cam just mentioned, the guide pin 82 is provided with an en circling compression spring 99, opposite ends of which are accommodated within sockets 9| and 92 formed respectively in the blocks 16 and 86, and is further provided at its upper or screw threaded end with a nut 93, between which and the spring 90 the block 86 is held in various positions of adjustment as determined by the position of the nut 93 on the screw threaded guide pin 82. In order to insure the nut 93 against undue displacement, once a proper adjustment, of it has been efiected, there is provided a retaining spring 94, one end of which is anchored to the block 86 and the other end of which is adapted to bear firmly on one or another of the faces of the nut.

Each of the feed units 15 further includes substantially a radially disposed block 95, which is secured to the cam ring l5 similarly to the block 16 hereinbefore described and to which is secured a cam block 96, provided at its inner end with a needle lifting cam 91, the inner face of which conforms generally to the contour of the needle cylinder I3. On the cam block 96,"is carried a pattern wheel unit U, which is structurally identical to the pattern wheel unit U hereinbefore described and which is adapted to be quickly attached to and removed from its operating position on the cam block in the manner already described in connection with the wheel unit U.

In view of the nature of the machine with which the present invention is illustrated, it is believed that no detailed description of the operation of the machine proper is here necessary, but it is deemed advisable to point out the fact that the feed units l6 and 15 embodying the present invention are such as to make possible the use of a substantially greater number of feeds in a given size machine than has been permitted heretofore. In this connection it is to be observed that the arrangement of the essential elements entering into the structure embodying the invention are such as to account for a very substantial saving of space and that such conservation of space makes possible the placing. of the feeds closer together throughout the general perimeter of the machine. Aside from the fact that the structure enables a greater number of feeds to be employed in connection with a given size machine, it will be especially observed that the various parts, such as the several cams and other elements about which the invention centers, are readily accessible, may be easily removed, may be readily adjusted, changed or altered as conditions may demand as, for example, when it becomes necessary to efiect relative adjustment between the several needle actuating cams, change pattern wheel units, or alter the pattern wheel units by changing the arrangement of jacks therein.

Although only one form of the invention is itself and for pivotal adjustment about a givenaxis whereby an adjustment corresponding to 1 the resultant adjustment of that block may be said units for adjustment lengthwise of itself and for pivotal adjustment about a given axis whereby an adjustment corresponding to the resultant adjustment of that block may be effected between its associated cam and the cam associated with the corresponding block of the other unit and means for effecting micrometric adjustment of said one block lengthwise of itself and for effecting micrometric pivotal adjustment thereof about said,

given axis.

3. In a knitting machine, a feed including a pair of feed units, each comprising a pair of blocks disposed in a contiguous relation, needle actuating cams individual to and carried by said blocks,

means for supporting one block of one of said units for. adjustment lengthwise of itself and for pivotal adjustment about a given axis whereby an adjustment corresponding to the resultant adjustment of that block may be effected between its associated cam and the cam associated with the corresponding block of the other unit and means for effecting micrometric adjustment of said one block lengthwise of itself and for efiecting micrometric pivotal adjustment thereof about said given axis and for anchoring said one block 1 against a normal tendency to move lengthwise of itself and about said given axis under the action of its associated cam against the needles with which that cam is adapted to cooperate.

4. In a knitting machine, a feed unit comprising a pair of blocks disposed in a contiguous relation, a needle actuating cam individual to and carried by each of said blocks, the cam of one block being adapted to exert a needle thrust in one direction and the cam of the other block being adapted to exert a needle thrust in an opposite direction, and means for supporting said blocks together with their associated cams in operative positions and in positions to be removed independently of each other.

5. In a knitting machine, a feed including a pair of feed units, each comprising a pair of blocks disposed in a contiguous relation, needle actuating cams individual to andcarried by said blocks, means for supporting one block of one of said units for adjustment with respect to the corresponding block of the other of said units whereby a relative adjustment may be efiected between the cams carried by said corresponding blocks, and means for effecting micrometric adjustment of said one block with respect to the correspond- ,ing block of the other of said units and for anchoring said one block against a normal tendency to move under the action of its associated cam against the needles with which that cam is adapted to cooperate, the latter means comprising a latch bolt pivotally supported at one end and provided at its other end with a nut adapted when moved in one direction to efiect a corresponding movement of said one block. 1

6. In a knitting machine, a feed including a pair of feed units, each comprising a pair of blocks disposed in a contiguous relation, needle actuating cams individual to and carried by said blocks, means for supporting one block of one of said units for adjustment lengthwise of itself and for pivotal adjustment about a given axis whereby an adjustment corresponding to the resultant adjustment of that block may be efiected between its associated cam and the cam associated with the corresponding block of the other unit and means for efiecting micrometric adjustment of said one block lengthwise of itself and for effecting micrometric pivotal adjustment thereof about said given axis, the latter means comprising a pair of latch bolts, each of which is pivotally supported at one end and provided at its other end with a nut adapted when moved in one direction to effect a corresponding movement of said one block.

7. In a knitting machine, a feed including a pair of feed units, each comprising a pair of blocks disposed in a contiguous relation, needle actuating cams individual to and carried by said 1 blocks, means for supporting one block of one of said units for adjustment with respect to the corresponding block of the other of said units whereby a relative adjustmentmay be effected between the cams carried by said corresponding blocks and a pattern wheel unit carried by one block of each of said units. l

8. In a knitting machine, a feed unit comprising a pair of blocks disposed in a contiguous relation, needle actuating cams individual to and carried by saidiblocks, the cam of one block being a lifting cam adapted to exert a needle thrust in one direction and the cam of the other block being a lowering cam adapted to exert a needle thrust in an opposite direction, means for supporting said blocks together with-their associated cams inoperative positions and in positions to be removed independently of each other and a pattem wheel unit carried by that block on which said lifting cam is carried. a

, WILLIAM A. ZIEVE. 

